18-year-old Leaving Certificate student Michael Livingstone from St.Peter’s Community College Passage West joins Fr.Con Cronin on this week’s Podcast, the 12th in the series from the Harbour Parishes.

They discuss the effects of the Covid 19 school closures and the effects the social lockdown has had on young people.

This week the College held a graduation by video which is discussed in the Podcast interview in which Michael describes the effects on young people of suddenly finding they had left school, without even being able to say goodbye to friends and classmates they had known for many years.

The lack of social and sporting interactions have been hard on young people, he says. “Everything was stopped so suddenly. It was very strange. So was missing the routine of school which was suddenly removed from life. That took time to get used to.”

It was hard to adjust, Michael Livingstone tells Fr.Con, but says that lessons have also been learned from the experience which may be helpful in the future. Young people have to deal with the new, challenging situation in which they now live and will have to cope with for the future.

In recent weeks Bishop Fintan Gavin has authorised parishes to re-open Churches for personal prayer provided that diocesan safety guidelines are strictly adhered to. On Wednesday night, in a historic first, the Parish Assembly met in a virtual online meeting to discuss how we as a community could begin to make our Churches available for prayer whilst ensuring everyone’s safety and wellbeing.

The Assembly was very conscious of the government guidance that those who are ‘cocooning’ and self-isolating should leave home only for exercise and would hope that parishioners would not be tempted to visit the Church, as much as they would love to, until such time that they are advised that they can mix more freely and visit other homes and centres. The Assembly was also mindful of the fact that many parishioners would welcome an opportunity to visit the Church to say a prayer or to light a candle in these anxious and uncertain times. After careful consideration the Assembly decided that each of our Churches would be opened on a phased and gradual basis.

For the first two weeks, beginning on Tuesday 19th May 2020, our Churches will be open for personal prayer at the following times:

Passage West Church & Ringaskiddy Oratory

Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sunday: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Monkstown Church and Shanbally Church

Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

This arrangement will be reviewed at the end of the initial two weeks.

During this initial period stewards will be present in the Church to help people understand and follow new Church protocols such as sanitising their hands on entering and leaving the Church, using the designated entrance and exit, maintaining a physical distance of two metres and only lighting shrine candles from a candle that is already lighting. We ask people to be guided by the stewards so that we can all get used of adhering to best practice and ensuring a safe environment for everyone who wishes to worship in our Church. Church surfaces will be sanitised at the end of each prayer period and sanitising wipes will be also available at the entrance porch for those who wish to use them.

The Parish Assembly would like to thank all those who have volunteered to act as stewards in this initial period as we become accustomed to doing things in a new way. The changes that we are asking people to take on board serve one purpose, namely to keep everyone safe. We are also grateful to all those who have offered to help in cleaning and sanitising the Churches as the need arises in the coming weeks and months.

The government roadmap for the easing of restrictions does not envisage any gatherings in Church until 20th July 2020 at the earliest. As restrictions are lifted we will continue to be guided by public health advice and will prioritise the safety of everyone in our praying community, especially those who are vulnerable in any way. The Lord, who spend much of his ministry curing the sick and restoring people to health, would expect nothing less of us!

Molly Kate Geary, a local girl who is just nine years old and attends Shanbally National School, has launched an online fundraising campaign to help charities supporting the elderly who are isolated and alone.

Molly Kate, greeting her granny, Tess, Through the glass of her kitchen door

“I don't ever want any old person to be lonely” Molly Kate explains. “I miss my Grandad's hugs. He is so much fun. Granny makes lovely cakes - and I can't help her anymore. I want to raise money for charities that help older people, so they can help people like my Granny and Grandad. Some older people do not have families or friends that can help them when they need it - and that makes me feel very sad. I don't want any old person, ever, to think that they are alone so I want to do something to support charities that are helping them."

All monies raised by Molly Kate’s campaign will go directly to four charities supporting the elderly in Ireland be shared equally between: Age Action, Alone, Active Retirement Ireland and Friends of the Elderly; all of whom are enthusiastically supporting the campaign.

Molly’s campaign is called #throughtheglass and the idea is simple:

Take a picture to show the elderly that you care for them, especially now that they are isolated and alone.

Post it on social media with #throughtheglass

Encourage family and friends to take part by posting their own picture

The priests of The Harbour Parishes and the Parish Assembly congratulate Molly Kate on this wonderful initiative and her great example of caring for the elderly. We are very proud to be associated with her campaign and hope that you will support it.

The live stream is visible only to friends so please pop in a friend request by clicking on 'like / thumbs up' icon in advance. This Sunday's Mass will be celebrated by Fr Sean and streamed live from St Mary's Church in Passage West.

Over the coming weeks the Mass will be celebrated from a different Church each Sunday on the same facebook page.

In response to requests from parishioners we are happy to make available some prayer resources that we might use to pray for one another and everyone in our world in these worrying times. One is for adults and the other is suitable for children. Though we cannot gather together physically to pray let us be more united than ever in heart and spirit as we pray for one another. Some parishioners, particularly the elderly, may not be able to access these resources on the internet and so we are asking for your help. If you know someone whom you think would like a copy please print off a copy and drop it through their letterbox so that they feel included and know that we are thinking of them.

The diocese have also developed a prayer resource for people to offer at home when, because of self-isolation, they are unable to be present at the funeral of friend or a loved one. Find it and other news and resources on www.corkandross.org

Community Notices

Monday afternoon, 11th May 2020, witnessed a heart-warming outpouring of affection for Sr Rosarii Darby as she celebrated her 88th birthday. Despite the restrictions on public gatherings, friends from throughout the parish found a novel way to...

Cork priests become 'podcasters and broadcasters'said the headline in THE ECHO this week when the paper reported how Fr.Sean and Fr.Con had started their series of Podcasts on the parish website.
The story on this link:...